\ r 

CHRISTIANITY  IN  PRACTICE 

A SERIES  OF  SKETCHES  DESCRIBING 
INSTITUTIONS  AND  TYPES  OF  SERVICE 
ON  BAPTIST  MISSION  FIELDS  ABROAD 

Vublished  as  occasion  may  require 

Number  Tour  WT^T  CHINA 


A M ission  Hospital  in  Peace 
and  in  War 

By  C.  E.  Tompkins,  M.  D. 


PubliaKed  by  the  General  Board  of  Promotion  of  the 
Northern  Baptist  Convention,  to  promote  the  work  of  the 

AMERICAN  BAPTIST  FOREIGN  MISSION  SOCIETY 

Ford  Building  O Ashburton  Place 


Boston,  Mass. 


D 


FACTS  ABOUT  THE  WEST  CHINA  MISSION 

Missionaries 50 

Native  Workers 114 

Stations 5 

Organized  Churches 5 

Church  Members 1,267 

Sunday  Schools  28 

Pupils 1,730 

Theological  Seminary  and  Training  Schools  3 

Students 14 

High  Schools 2 

Pupils 75 

Secondary  Schools  3 

Pupils 96 

Primary  Schools 29 

Pupils 1,457 

Appropriations S87,512.33 


AM  ission  Hospital  in  Peace  and  in  War 

By  C.  E.  Tompkins,  M.  D. 

O ONE  visiting  the  mission  hospital  for  men  at 
Suifu,  West  China,  the  last  of  1917,  could  fail 
to  be  impressed  by  the  large  contribution  that 
institution  was  making  toward  the  relief  of  the 
serious  crisis  through  which  the  entire  com- 
munity was  then  passing,  — the  throes  and  horror  of  a 
civil  war.  In  that  strife  between  the  northern  and  south-^ 
ern  forces,  the  hospital  was  literally  a life  boat  to  hundreds 
who  otherwise  would  have  perished.  The  work  which 
was  done  here  demonstrated,  with  unusual  emphasis 
the  fact  that  Christianity  stands  preeminently  for  the 
aid  and  comfort  of  all  who  are  in  distress.  Many  a non- 
Christian  business  man  would  ask  why  the  Christian 
workers  spent  so  much  time  and  energy  caring  for  the 
poor  wounded.  “They  are  only  common  soldiers,  and 
their  own  doctors  w'ould  not  do  as  much,”  they  would  sa>v 
Naturally  the  questioner  was  told  of  the  Great  Friend 
went  about.  Himself,  ministering  unto  the  suffering.  ,7^ 
Neither  of  the  conflicting  armies  had  adequate  equip-n 
ment,  either  of  trained  doctors  or  supplies,  to  take  care 
of  the  wounded  as  they  should  be,  and  so  the  unfortunate 
men  poured  into  the  mission  hospital.  This  hospital 
has  seventy-five  beds,  but  for  weeks  it  cared  for  two 
hundred  patients,  and  for  a few  days  it  housed  three 
hundred  wounded  and  refugees.  Every  nook  and  all 
the  verandas  were  packed  with  patients. 

The  hospital  was  open  to  all  sufferers,  soldiers  and 
civilians  alike.  Many  an  unfortunate  civilian,  forced  by 
the  soldiers  to  carry  ammunition  or  supplies  up  to  the 
firing  line,  fell  a victim  to  the  thickly  flying  bullets,  and 
occasionally  some  farmer  whose  house  was  between  the 
ever  changing  lines,  was  struck  by  a spent  bullet. 


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There  were  no  ambulances  in  this  section,  for  the 
country  is  so  hilly,  and  the  roads  so  uneven  that  not 
even  a wheelbarrow  is  seen,  so  the  wounded  men  were 
brought  in  on  all  kinds  of  conveyances,  including  doors, 
large  baskets  slung  over  a carrying  pole,  temporary 
stretchers  made  of  two  bamboo  poles  covered  with  a 
bedquilt;  and  sedan  chairs,  or  house  chairs  with  bamboo 
poles  strapped  to  the  sides,  and  carried  by  coolies. 


Wounded  Soldiers  in  the  Hospital  at  Suifu 
Another  group  is  shown  on  the  front  cover 


When  an  urgent  call  came  for  help  at  a distant  fighting 
sector,  a branch  hospital  was  established  not  far  behind 
the  firing  line.  The  group  of  workers,  missionaries  and 
Chinese  not  only  had  to  carry  on  their  work  under  most 
primitive  and  trying  conditions,  but  had  to  live  amid 
extremely  crude  and  forlorn  surroundings  in  a battle-torn 
village.  The  majority  of  the  patients  had  to  lie  on  straw 
pallets,  on  the  floor,  or  on  benches.  This  work  behind 
the  firing  line  occasioned  special  comment  from  the 


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governor  of  the  province,  who  recognized  the  service 
as  being  done  in  the  name  of  Christ. 

The  entire  hospital  service  treated  over  two  thousand 
men  injured  in  this  conflict,  and  for  nearly  three  years 
the  wards  were  not  without  their  wounded  patients.  The 
wounds  ranged  through  all  degrees  of  severity,  and 
were  in  every  part  of  the  body,  from  head  to  foot.  Nearly 
every  case  was  infected  by  the  time  it  reached  the  hospital, 
for  even  the  “first  aid”,  when  applied,  left  much  to  be 
desired! 

Officers  and  privates,  high  and  low,  were  all  brought 
to  the  same  place,  and  given  the  same  attention,  although 
the  officers  were  given  the  private  wards.  But  the  hospital 
did  more  than  minister  to  the  physical  needs  of  the  host 
of  patients,  although  that  often  taxed  to  the  limit  the 
strength  of  the  staff  of  loyal  helpers,  who  frequently 
labored  from  dawn  until  nearly  midnight,  changing  the 
dressings  or  administering  needful  remedies.  There  was 
an  important  work  to  be  done  in  raising  the  spirits  of 
the  poor  fellows,  especially  when  there  was  a strong 
possibility  of  reverses  to  their  side.  It  was  often  very 
difficult  to  quiet  their  fears,  and  convince  them  that  they 
would  be  protected  in  any  emergency,  for  it  was  generally 
understood  that  neither  army  was  in  the  habit  of  “taking 
prisoners.”  On  more  than  one  occasion,  when  there  was 
a change  in  the  fortunes  of  war,  the  church  and  hospital 
became  a haven  of  refuge  for  the  unfortunate  men  who 
were  unable  to  retreat  with  their  companies,  and  for  the 
terrified  populace,  panic  stricken  at  the  prospect  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  victorious  army  coming  Into  the  city,  even 
though  the  latter  were  their  own  countrymen.  In  scores 
of  cases  the  missionaries  personally  piloted  the  poor 
fellows,  who  had  been  hiding  in  private  houses,  to  the 
hospital,  after  obtaining  permission  from  the  commanding 
officer.  A few  times  we  had  wounded  from  each  side  of  the 
conflict,  in  the  hospital.  These  fellows  are  sociable 


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beings,  and  it  was  not  long  before  they  fraternized  freely. 
It  sometimes  happened  that  the  opposing  army  was  in 
control  when  a company  of  wounded  at  the  hospital  was 
convalescent,  and  the  men  able  to  return  to  their  homes. 
In  such  a case  the  mission  doctor  would  secure  permission 
from  the  general  in  command,  for  these  men  to  pass 
through  his  lines,  and  usually  the  general  provided  travel- 
ing funds  for  the  men.  Moreover,  a missionary  frequently 
accompanied  the  party  to  prevent  any  possible  friction 
or  delay  when  going  from  one  line  to  the  other.  The 
American  flag,  always  carried  at  this  time,  is  a symbol 
of  Justice  and  Honor  in  West  China. 

These  and  numerous  other  deeds  of  public  service 
have  emphasized  the  value  of  Christianity  in  a most 
marked  way.  Never  has  the  Christian  church  at  Suifu 
had  a better  rating  in  the  community  than  today. 

There  were  rare  opportunities,  too,  of  impressing  upon 
the  wounded  men  as  they  rested  in  the  hospital  wards 
day  after  day,  the  fact  that  many  of  them  literally  owed 
their  lives  to  Christ,  and  all  were  indebted  to  Him  for 
the  relief  of  pain  and  the  healing  of  their  wounds.  For 
had  it  not  been  for  the  Christ,  His  message  to  men,  and 
His  example  of  loving  service,  there  would  have  been 
no  hospital  at  Suifu,  and  no  clean  dressings  for  their 
wounds. 

A Chinese  chaplain  devoted  his  entire  time  to  religious 
teaching  at  the  hospital,  through  conversation,  Bible 
classes  and  in  the  daily  ward  meetings.  Every  patient, 
when  he  left  the  hospital,  received  a gospel  and  a helpful 
tract  to  take  with  him.  How  far-reaching  or  effective  that 
evangelistic  message  was,  I cannot  tell,  but  I found  a sign 
of  its  value  in  a way  that  I least  expected.  One  morning 
while  making  my  rounds,  I came  to  a man  who  was  very 
seriously  wounded.  He  looked  up  into  my  face  and  said, 
“Doctor,  last  night  Jesus  came  to  me  and  said  that  I shall 
get  well.”  He  was  so  weak  I felt  that  the  end  was  not  far 


4 


and  that  he  was  delirious,  but  strange  to  say,  he  did 
recover  and  left  the  hospital  not  long  after. 


Dr.  Tompkins  and  a Poor  Blind  Beggar  Whose 
Sight  Was  Restored 

Thus  far  we  have  referred  to  the  “special”  service  with 
the  wounded,  but  after  all,  the  greatest  work  is  in  minister- 
ing to  the  common  ills  of  the  people  year  after  year.  The 
way  the  populace  flocks  to  the  daily  dispensary  for  treat- 


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ment,  and  the  serious  cases  which  fill  the  wards  of  the 
hospital,  furnish  ample  evidence  that  this  branch  of 
Christian  service  is  meeting  a real  need. 

In  a general  way  the  medical  work  of  the  hospital  may 
be  classified  under  six  heads,  as  follows: 

1.  Out-patient  Service. — A daily  dispensary,  free  for 
the  very  poor,  and  with  a small  charge  for  those  who 
can  afford  it.  Some  days  there  are  from  one  hundred 
and  fifty  to  two  hundred  patients,  and  the  annual  totals 
sh’ow  a steady  growth,  year  by  year. 

2.  Out-Calls. — Often  the  doctor  is  called  into  the 
home  when  the  patient  is  in  a critical  condition,  as  in 
case  of  accident,  suicide,  from  opium  or  match  poisoning, 
and  burns;  also  in  maternity  cases,  and  at  some  crisis 
in  an  acute  disease,  or  as  a last  resort  in  a failing  malady. 
This  is  not,  for  the  most  part,  a very  satisfactory  phase  of 
the  work,  except  in  the  maternity  cases.  One  is  never 
sure  that  the  treatment  outlined  will  be  followed  faith- 
fully. It  is  common  knowledge  that,  in  some  acute  cases, 
a dozen  different  doctors  will  be  called  in  within  a couple 
of  days,  — each  leaving  a different  prescription.  Yet  it 
does  offer  an  opportunity  to  demonstrate  one’s  interest 
and  sympathy  in  all  the  anxieties  of  the  home,  — an 
attitude  that  is  usually  appreciated. 

3.  In-patient,  or  Hospital  Service. — This  is  by  far 
the  most  satisfactory  form  of  medical  work,  both  from  the 
professional  and  the  missionary  point  of  view.  We 
receive  all  classes  of  people,  - — the  proud,  rich  Confucian 
scholar,  and  the  poor  blind  beggar;  the  earnest  Christian 
teacher  or  preacher;  and  the  brigand  (if  he  comes  in- 
cognito); the  Taoist  priest,  and  the  Mohammedan  who 
must  bring  his  own  cooking  and  serving  dishes,  lest  he 
be  defiled  by  food  cooked  or  served  in  anything  that  had 
ever  contained  or  come  in  contact  with  lard,  the  product  of 
the  “unclean  porker”.  There  come  to  us,  also,  the 


6 


Catholic  and  the  Protestant,  the  Buddhist  and  the  non- 
descript. We  know  them  only  as  “Temples  of  the  Living 
God.”  Patients  come  from  every  part  of  the  parish  of 
two  million  inhabitants,  afflicted  with  every  ill  common,  — 
and  uncommon,  — to  man,  and  only  one  doctor  to  treat 
them. 

4.  Training  Helpers.  — When  the  doctor  leaves  on 
furlough,  the  hospital  is  closed.  If  this  work  is  to  be 
continuous,  or  become  a vital  part  of  the  work  of  the 
Christian  church  in  China,  it  is  essential  that  there  be 
trained  Chinese  doctors,  nurses  and  other  helpers.  Up 
to  the  present  time  we  have  been  compelled  to  get  along 
with  the  help  of  young  men  to  whom  we  have  given  a 
little  training,  but  not  enough  to  call  them  nurses.  We 
are  always  on  the  lookout  for  promising  schoolboys,  and 
encourage  them  to  prepare  for  the  medical  school,  or  the 
school  for  nurses  at  the  Union  University  at  Chengtu. 

5.  Preventative  Medicine. — Every  doctor,  and  in 
fact  every  enlightened  person,  yearns  to  see  some  effort 
made  to  remove  the  disease-breeding  conditions  which 
exist  throughout  China,  and  to  arouse  a feeling  of  apprecia- 
tion of  the  value  of  God’s  laws  of  health  and  hygiene. 
Even  though  the  doctor’s  strength  and  time  are  limited,  he 
and  his  staff  can  contribute  something  toward  that  ob- 
jective, by  distributing  approved  pamphlets  or  posters 
on  various  health  subjects,  and  by  personal  instruction 
of  the  patients. 

The  Suifu  hospital  co-operates  with  the  church  organiza- 
tion in  various  health  campaigns  in  the  city,  such  as  free 
vaccination  clinics;  public  meetings,  with  use  of  lantern 
slides;  issuing  of  bulletins  on  timely  health  problems, 
and  it  has  also  given  “health  demonstrations”  to  the 
students  of  the  mission  schools. 

6.  Religious  Work. — Most  of  the  patients  are  igno- 
rant and  illiterate,  and  can  not  read  the  tracts  or  portions 


7 


of  the  Bible  when  given  them.  Neither  can  they  alto- 
gether follow  the  thought  of  the  chaplain  or  other  preacher. 
But  they  can  understand  the  “Gospel  of  Good  Cheer  and 
Kindness.”  So  this  forms  the  key  note  to  the  efforts  of 
the  entire  institution.  To  this  end  great  stress  is  being 
laid  upon  the  daily  Bible  study,  prayer,  and  conference. 


Dr.  Tompkins  Preaching  in  the  Hospital 


with  the  staff  of  helpers.  It  is  most  gratifying  to  see  the 
young  men  who  continue  In  the  service  of  the  hospital, 
make  public  allegiance  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  Thus,  in 
all  our  activities,  there  is  this  great  objective  before  us,  — 
whether  In  the  daily  treatments,  in  Bible  study,  in  the 
ward  meetings,  or  in  our  social  relations,  — that  the 
patient  ‘‘may  know  Jesus  Christ,  whom  to  know  is  Life.” 
We  do  not  measure  the  success  of  the  religious  work  in 
the  number  who  join  the  church,  but  by  the  influence  of 
“kindly  deeds  done  in  the  Master’s  name.”  There  is  a 
more  friendly  attitude  toward  the  teachings  of  Jesus,  and 
not  a few  learn  to  call  Him  Saviour  and  Redeemer. 


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CHRISTIANITY  IN  PRACTICE 

A senes  of  sketclies  descriting 
institutions  and  types  of  service 
on  Baptist  mission  fields  atroad 

Published  as  occasion  may  requite 


THE  FOLLOWING  NUMBERS  HAVE  ALREADY  APPEARED: 

l—A  DAY  IN  THE  TOKYO  TABERNACLE 

2^  THE  JORHAT  CHRISTIAN  SCHOOLS 
OF  ASSAM 

3— THE  LITTLE  WHITE  SHIP  OF  THE 
INLAND  SEA 

4 — A MISSION  HOSPITAL  IN  PEACE 
AND  IN  WAR 

OTHEJiS  TO  FOLLOW 


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Sample  Copies  Tree 
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For  additional  literature 
or  information  regarding 
the  work  of  the  American 
Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Society, 
write  to  any  of  the  following: 

1.  The  State  Director  of  Promotion 
in  your  State. 

2.  Rev.  Will  lam  A.  Hill.  Secretary 
of  Missionary  Education.  Ford 
Buildinf;.  Boston.  Mass. 

3.  Literature  Department.  American 
Baptist  Foreign  Mission  Socitty. 
Post  Office  Box  41.  Boston.  M ass. 

4.  The  General  Board  of  Promotion. 
276  Fifth  Ave..  NewYork  City. 


197-10M-2-2-1920 


